IFSA Milano 2008
I just got back from last weekends IFSA competition in Gessate, Italy.
This was my first time as an IFSA judge, and it seems I underestimated the pressure the judges experience.
I made a few mistakes during speed slalom. I didn’t call a false start when it obviously was one. I tried to whistle, but my brain was still processing or something, so a really weak whistle came out and noone heard it. Juan-Carlos (another IFSA judge) told me he had the same experience. But afterwards I didn’t doubt anymore. I guess it had something to do with lack of confidence.
The judge team consisted of Francesco Maselli from Italy, Kristell Arzur from France, Juan-Carlos Fidalgo from Spain, and myself.
The organisation by Polisportivo Gessate was great, and Ciro and Rossella made us feel welcome from the start. They deserve a big thank you, so THANK YOU Ciro and Rossella!!
During the weekend there also was a rock-concert (Gess on Rock) going on, very near to the competition area. Headliner of the weekend was a famous (in Italy at least) punk/ska band called Punkreas. You can get a taste of the atmosphere in the evening and during the concert in the pictures.
I had a great weekend, but didn’t get to do a lot of skating. It really was, like Francesco told us at the judge course last year, “more work than fun”. Next time, I’ll be prepared 
A bit of the atmosphere at the contest
IFSA Milano 2008 - Freestyle Men Training from Tim Schraepen on Vimeo.
Also, this is the song that’ll remind me of this weekend: Junior Kelly - If love so nice (props to the italian DJ at the event!)